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(No Model.) B. H. BURLING.

SELF RAISING LADDER.

No. 449,999., Patented Apr. 7, 1891.-

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L da a 0 o o ATTORNEYS f vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

BENJAMIN H. BUELING, or roar ANN, NEw Yoan, AssieNoE on rrwo- TmEDs ToFRANK M. LAMB AND HUGH McDoNALD, on sAME PLACE.

' SELF-RAISING LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,999, dated April 7,1891.

Application filed August 13, 1890. Serial No. 361,893. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. BURLING, of FortAnmin the county ofWashington and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedSelf-Raising Ladder, of which the following' is a full, clear, and exactdescription.-

My invention relates to improvements in self-raising ladders; and theobject of my in- Io vention is to produce a ladder of simpleconstruction that may be easily moved about, that will maintain itselfin a vertical position, that maybe adjusted so as so extend into anydesired position in line with the swing of the x5 ladder on its support,and that may be arranged so that the main portion of it will extendvertically and the upper end will extend at an angle to the main portionof the ladder.

To this end my invention consists in cerzo tain features of constructionand combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fullyv described,and then pointed outin the claims. Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, z5 in whichsimilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both. thefigures.

F'gure 1 is a broken plan view of the ladder embodying my invention, andFig. 2 is a broken vertical section of the same on the 3o line 0c a; ofFig. 1.

rThe ladder proper is mounted in a bodyA, which has vertical sides A anda concave semicircular bottom A2, the arc of the circle beinglargeenough to accommodate the swinging motion of the ladder, as hereinafterdescribed. The body is provided centrally with a longitudinalstrengthening-rib ct on each side, and at. each end with a suitable seata. Itis mounted on wheels B, and is provided at each end with a tongueB,so that it maybe easily wheeled either backward or forward.

The ladder C is composed of two members C and C2, the lower member Cbeing pivoted in the body A and the upper member C2 being centrallypivoted between the upper ends of the side rails of the lower member.The lower member C is pivoted on the shaft D, which extends centrallythrough the upper portion of the body A, and the member C is providedwith a weighted base C3, which extends below the pivot-shaft D, and theweight is sufticieliitly heavy to counterbalance the upper portion ofthe ladder, and thus main tain it in a vertical position.

vSuitable blocks c are arranged upon the shaft D on each side of theweight C3, so as t0 prevent friction between the weight and the sides ofthe body A, although these blocks are not absolutely necessary.

rlhe lower member C ot the ladder is pro- 6o vided with suitable rungsc', extending nearly to the top, and the lower portions ot' the siderails of the member C are thickened, as at C4, and pipes E extendvertically through the thickened portions, the lower extremities E ot'the pipes being bent outwardly, so as to project from the sides of theladder, as shown y in Fig. 1. These pipes are adapted to connect withsupply pipes or hose at the lower end, and a suitable hose may becoupled to 7o each pipe at the top, and may be carried to the upperportion of the ladder when desired. It will bc observed that these pipesare arranged on each side of the ladder, and may thus be connected withtwo engines. One of the pipes E may, if desired, be connected with theexhaust steam-pipe of an engine and the other pipe with a Water-supplypipe, so that steam and water may both be thrown, or hot water may bepassed through 8o one pipe and cold water through the other. This willbe found advantageous for use in cold weather, as there will be nodanger of freezing, and water and steam may be delivy ered with goodeffect.

On the lower portion of the lower member C are cleats F, to which theropes G are attached to regulate the position ot the upper member C2.The upper member C2 is centrally pivoted between the upper ends of the9o rails of the lower inenibei'C, and has a oentral body portion C5without rungs, but having openings C2 therein, which lighten the Vweightof the member, and through which a person may descend, it desirable, tothe lower member C. The side rails of the upper member extend from eachend of the central portion C5, and are connected by suitable rungs c3,the ropes G being attached to theA outer rungs of the member C2 and tothe 10o cleats F on the lower member. It is obvious that the rope may beattached to the other rungs, if desired. It will thus be seen that themember C2 may be swung so as to nearly align with the member C', so thatthe device may be used as an ordinary ladder, or the upper member may beswung at an angle to the lower member, as shown in Fig. 2, and held bythe ropes G, and it may thus be made to extend across a street or into awindow, if desired.

A drum Il extends through each end of the body A, near the upper portionthereof, and iixed to each drum is a cord or rope K, said rope beingalso connected to the lower end of the weight C3. One end of each drum Hprojects through the side of the body A, and is provided with aratchet-Wheel H', having a suitable handle h, by which it and the drummay be turned, and a pawl j is pivoted on the body A near eachratchet-wheel, so as to engage the same and prevent the drum H fromturning back. It' desired, a ratchetwheel may be fixed to each end ofthe drum II. It will thus be seen that by turning one of the drums H theposition of the ladder may be easily changed, as it will be therebycaused to swing on the pivot-shaft D.

The ladder is chiefly intended for use as a remans ladder; but it. mayalso be used as a reescape and for many other purposes. lVhen a firemanor other person is to be elevated to a desired position, the ladder issw ung downward, so that the person may get onto the upper member C2,and the ladder is then swung upward and the position of the upper memberfixed by means ot the ropes G, as described.

The apparatus is preferably mode of iron, although it may be made of anymaterial suitable for the purpose.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A self-raising ladder comprising a support,a ladder having a weighted base, said ladder being pivoted in thesupport, and manually-operated drums pivoted in the support andconnected by suitable ropes with the base 5o of the ladder,substantially as described.

2. A self-raising ladder comprising two members, the lower member beingpivoted in a support and provided with a weighted base, and the uppermember being kcentrally piv` oted upon the upper end of the lowermember, substantially as described.

3. A self-raising ladder comprising two members, the lower member beingpivoted in a suitable support and provided with a weighted base andhaving cleats on the sides thereof, and the upper member being centrallypivoted upon the upper end of the lower member and provided at oppositeends with ropes, substantially as described, and for the purposespecified.

4. A self-raising ladder comprisingasemicircular support mounted onsuitable wheels and a ladder consisting ot' two members mounted in thesupport, the lower member being pivoted in the Support and provided witha weighted base and the upper member being centrally pivoted to theupper end of the lower member, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a vertically-swinging ladder having cleats, asshown, of a supplementary ladder pivoted to the upper end of theswinging ladder and provided with ropes adapted to be attached to thecleats, the supplementary ladder having a central body portion withopenings therein, substantially as described.

6. A self-raising ladder consisting, essentially, of a semicircular bodymounted upon suitable wheels, manually-operated drums pivoted inopposite ends of the body and provided with a ratchet mechanism, asshown, a ladder pivoted in said body and provided with a Weighted basehaving connection with tho drums, and a supplementaryv ladder pivoted inthe upper end of the lower ladder, said supplementary ladder having acentral body with openings therein and being provided with suitableropes at each end, substantially as described.

BENJAMIN 1I. BURLING.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK I. BAKER, J. MELVIN ADAMS.

